BIG PLANS

11.15.11

Perry Wants to Halve Congress

Chris Keane / Reuters-Landov

Rick Perry is moving on from “oops” damage control to highlight some of the big changes he would implement if elected president. In a speech in Iowa on Tuesday, the Republican presidential hopeful described his plans to “uproot and overhaul” Washington if elected president, effectively cutting Congress’s responsibilities and salaries in half. He said that his background as a state governor rather than a Washington insider would make it easier for him to completely change D.C.’s culture. Perry played up his argument by pointing to polls that show voters have little regard for Congress. “Congress is out of touch because congressmen are overpaid, overstaffed, and away from home too much,” the Texas governor said. He also pointed out how President Obama had failed to dramatically change Washington, one of the goals he laid down when first taking office.